Farmers divided over Haryana’s 1st nuclear plant

FATEHABAD: Farmers of Gorakhpur and adjoining villages are divided over the issue of the Haryana government acquiring 1,500 acres of prime agricultural land for the 2,800 mw nuclear project, the first in the state.

While most senior farmers are on relay dharna for several months taking a maximalist position of not giving their land away, the younger ones have formed their own samiti setting down outlandish, even if negotiable, demands in return of their land.

Gorakhpur is just around 250 km away from Delhi. Any degeneration of their protest into violence — as has happened in Jaitapur, Maharashtra — could spell a first rate crisis for the government. In this dusty rural hinterland, young, aggressive farmers want a deal. But the older farmers are unrelenting. These greying harvesters began their protest on July 29 last year after the Haryana government imposed Section IV of the Land Acquisition Act, underlining the urgency with which the Haryana government wanted to press on with the project.

'' This is a fertile belt. We grow three crops annually. Although the costs have increased , we've been able to sustain ourselves. Why is the government in a hurry to snatch our land?'' asked Hans Raj (60), leader of Kisan Sangharsh Samiti spearheading the group. Meanwhile, the proland acquisition outfit, Parmanu Sanyantra Lagao Samiti, comprising younger farmers, has laid down its demands: Rs 50 lakh per acre compensation ; Rs 42,000 annual royalty with an increment of Rs 1,500 every year on the purchased land for 33 years; a Central or state government job to a member each of the affected family; and, exemption in registration of land bought anywhere in the country.

'' Our compensation demand was accepted in principle ,'' claims Suneet Kumar (31), a Samiti member. '' We are eagerly waiting for the notification for monetary compensation ,'' said Rajbeer Singh, another Samiti member. While many in Gorakhpur village call the '' bargaining'' as greed overcoming common sense, most agree that the friction is on account of the absence of a clear land acquisition policy. '' The government is trying to evolve a consensus,'' said Fatehabad deputy commissioner Vijay Singh Dahiya.

According to Dahiya, about 700 out of 847 farmers have accepted land acquisition. While Dahiya says consent for about 1,313 acres was given by Gorakhpur farmers, he admits there are 191 objections from them. Farmers reject these figures. About 250km from Delhi Population: 10lakh Gorakhpur village: 20,000 (approx) Total land needed: 1,500 acres Govt claims consent obtained: 1,313 acres Farmers dispute govt claims